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Intentions
Dublin-based Beatrice lives for her career. When she realises she doesn't feel the same passion for her boyfriend Paul, and that he pales in comparison to the charismatic and generous Damien Doyle, she decides to make a change.
424 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2012
About the author
Muriel Bolger
15 books11 followersMuriel Bolger is an experienced travel writer and magazine editor
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 14, 2024
It was terrible the characters were weird and unlikeable the scenarios were bat shit crazy...noooo
January 16, 2013
When Beatrice and Damien meet, Beatrice has sworn off men and Damien is about to travel to India. Not the most promising start to a romance. As Dean of Students at a Dublin medical college, Damien’s time in India is spent with a small team of people who are building a new centre for the rag-pickers of Mumbai. There, he is reacquainted with one of his ex-students, Iswara, a Hindu, who is strongly attracted to Abdul-Razzaz (AA), a Muslim.
The story combines all the fun and expected elements of chick lit with the serious themes of poverty in India, the Hindu caste system, and immigration. It is teeming with clearly defined characters. Beatrice can be annoying at times, and I’m not totally convinced by the psychology the the author uses to explain her behaviour. Iswara’s dilemma feels more genuine and therefore is more successful. There are a variety of sub-plots to intrigue and complicate the narrative. For the most part this works really well, although in the last third I do feel that we are meandering along so many paths it is difficult to work out where we are going and when we are going to finally get there.
Although I’ve never visited either place, the heat of India and the rain of Ireland feel authentic. Accents are suggested but not made stereotypical (thank goodness). The themes of loyalty, responsibility, love and friendship ring strong and true in this story. When people don’t tell the truth there are consequences, which interestingly enough is the title of Muriel Bolger’s first novel, which I’d now like to read.
The story combines all the fun and expected elements of chick lit with the serious themes of poverty in India, the Hindu caste system, and immigration. It is teeming with clearly defined characters. Beatrice can be annoying at times, and I’m not totally convinced by the psychology the the author uses to explain her behaviour. Iswara’s dilemma feels more genuine and therefore is more successful. There are a variety of sub-plots to intrigue and complicate the narrative. For the most part this works really well, although in the last third I do feel that we are meandering along so many paths it is difficult to work out where we are going and when we are going to finally get there.
Although I’ve never visited either place, the heat of India and the rain of Ireland feel authentic. Accents are suggested but not made stereotypical (thank goodness). The themes of loyalty, responsibility, love and friendship ring strong and true in this story. When people don’t tell the truth there are consequences, which interestingly enough is the title of Muriel Bolger’s first novel, which I’d now like to read.
April 7, 2013
I loved this book. Great story. Brilliant ending
February 4, 2016
Utter rubbish! I wanted to just get it finished n done!! Didn't grip me whatsoever
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews